Iran has reached a deal with Russia to purchase the advanced Sukhoi-35 fighter jets, replacing its outdated fighter reservoir with modern ones.
Local media in Iran has confirmed that Tehran and Moscow have agreed on an agreement in which Tehran would purchase modern Sukhoi-35 fighter jets. The move seems to be deepening a partnership that has already seen Russian drones made in Iran utilised in its conflict with Ukraine.
Tehran has closed a contract to acquire Sukhoi-35 fighter jets, according to Iranian permanent envoy to the UN. Iranian official media has verified the comments in a full report.
Russian approval of the purchase, the specifics of which were not made public, was not included in official media story. According to the same source, Tehran had also approached several other unspecified nations about purchasing military fighters.
A news portal broke the story about Iran buying Russian fighter planes few days ago. At a meeting with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 9 months earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed the need of forging tighter ties in defiance of Western sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine.
Iran has admitted to delivering drones to Moscow, but maintains that the delivery occurred before Moscow’s war with Kyiv broke out last year. Despite the fact that multiple drones produced in Iran have been downed and retrieved in Ukraine, Moscow rejects using any of Iranian products in Ukraine war.
Sukhoi-35 Replace Old Ones
Less than a handful of strike aircraft, including outdated American models purchased before to the 1979 revolution and Soviet jets, make up Iran’s air force.
Iran, by the way, took successful steps in obtaining the science of military fighters’ production. The new eastern bloc could make more time for the industry in Iran to develop by filling the vacant spots in Iranian defense systems.
The new developments in the region, including a restoration of Tehran’s ties with Riyadh brokered by Beijing, promises new era of agreement on various spheres including the military.
A de-escalation with Saudi Arabia means good ties with most Arab countries in the Persian Gulf region. That is expected to lead to a comprehensive long-time partnership supported by China and Russia.
